The residents of Florina are left without firewood for the sixth year in a row, as they complain to SKAI as they say the forest service grants them to traders on more favorable terms.

Speaking on the SKAI show, “Mismatches” the General Director of Forests and Forest Environment, Evangelos Goudoufas, made it clear that the forest service’s absolute priority is the provision of firewood to the permanent residents of the mountainous regions.

Speaking about Florina in particular, he argued that the largest amount was allocated too quickly for the forestry cooperatives to cut down the required quantities.

“I was given 420,000 euros, about 17,000 spatial meters were felled which were made available to about 2,650 permanent residents of the local communities of mountainous Florina” said Mr. Goudoufas. He clarified, however, that there are still 60 families who had to first implement some formal procedures and then they will be given directly.

Mr. Gudufas underlined that no company has taken firewood and added that those residents facing problems should contact the forest service.

Regarding availability, Mr. Goudoufas said that “they give wood according to availability. It’s about 6 cubic feet on average.”